Agum has yet to quit Cabinet

JAKARTA: Despite the announcement of his candidacy as the running mate for United Development Party (PPP) presidential candidate Hamzah Haz, Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar has yet to submit his letter of resignation to President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

A staffer with the State Secretariat said the President could not issue a decree on Agum's status until he presented an official resignation letter.

"Because it is not the President who wants him to quit, but the minister himself who wants to join the presidential race," the staffer said on Friday.

Government Regulation No. 9/2004 states that a minister has to quit the Cabinet if he or she is contesting an election, as senior ministers Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla have done. --JP